BLIPA – Bacterial Lysate in Preventing Asthma

Synopsis

Why the research project is important

Viral infections in the lower respiratory tract can cause bronchiolitis, and this is the leading cause of hospitalisation in young children. Approximately 13,500 infants are hospitalised each year in Australia with bronchiolitis, due most commonly to respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus. Severe bronchiolitis also places these children at risk of developing wheeze and asthma. Therefore, it is important to identify treatments to prevent the development of wheeze and asthma.

What the research seeks to do

There is evidence that exposure to bacterial products can protect against the development of wheeze in young children. One way to mimic exposure to bacterial products is through a lysate which contains killed bacterial extracts. Together with our research partners in the UK, we are investigating whether the administration of a bacterial lysate Broncho Vaxom (BV), also called OM-85, can reduce wheeze in children hospitalised with bronchiolitis.

We are conducting a double-blind randomised controlled trial that will recruit 120 Australian children from Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin and Melbourne. Infants will take BV or a placebo for two years after their hospital admission for bronchiolitis. This forms part of a larger RCT underway in the UK which aims to recruit a further 774 infants.

What are the research outcomes/ impact

The main outcome we are investigating is whether BV reduces doctor diagnosed wheeze 19-24 months after starting the medication. We are also investigating whether the use of BV reduces the development of eczema, allergies, asthma and other medication use such as antibiotics or corticosteroids for asthma. We will also investigate if BV reduces hospital or doctor visits for wheeze and asthma.

Blood, saliva and stool samples are also being taken during the study which will allow us to understand how BV may work to help prevent wheeze.

If our hypothesis is correct, this study will provide a treatment to help prevent the development of wheeze and asthma in children hospitalized with bronchiolitis.